Kagwe clarifies rice importation won’t hurt farmers
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has assured farmers that the government’s recent move to allow duty-free rice imports will not jeopardise local production or market prices.
Speaking in response to concerns in Nyeri on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Kagwe dismissed claims that rice imports are meant to kill the local industry.
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He clarified that the country has long relied on imports to meet national demand, noting that Kenya produces only about 20 percent of the 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice consumed annually.
“We have imported rice for almost all our lives. For example, in the last three years, we have imported an average of 700,000 metric tonnes of rice per year. This is not the first time that we have imported rice. We produce about 20 percent of our rice intake,” he stated.
He emphasised that before any importation is allowed, the government will first purchase all rice available from local farmers.
“I don’t understand where this confusion has been coming from about whether we are importing rice to kill the local industry. The practice is as follows: We ensure the local producer is protected. For imports to come in, we will make sure we buy all the rice available in the country. There should be no panic from any farmer that we are going to import rice at their expense. I cannot myself supervise such an exercise,” he vowed.
Kagwe urged calm and warned against misinformation campaigns intended to stir panic among farmers.
“I want to urge calmness in some of these things. Let not a propagandist start talking for the sake of talking, where everyone has become an expert about everything,” he added.
AFA’s approval
His remarks come shortly after the government approved the duty-free importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of Grade 1 milled white rice to cushion consumers from rising food prices and support national food security.
According to a statement released by the Agriculture and Food Authority on July 31, 2025, the Cabinet’s decision, published under Gazette Notice No. 10353 dated July 28, 2025, seeks to address the country’s growing rice deficit without undermining local farmers.
The authority stated that the country’s annual rice consumption stands at approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes, while local production accounts for just 264,000 metric tonnes, barely 20 percent of demand.
“The balance has traditionally been bridged through imports. However, recent global supply disruptions and price shocks have hindered access, disproportionately affecting low-income households,” read the statement in part.
Further, the government has warned that failure to act would result in food shortages or sharp price increases not just for rice, but also for other staples like maize and wheat flour.
